The Western Cape Department of Human Settlements will pursue legal processes in order to elect a new Project Steering Committee (PSC) for the N2 Gateway, Joe Slovo Phase 3 Housing project. It is intended for the election to take place by no later than 5 November 2016. The decision comes after violence erupted on Saturday 15 October, preventing the Department from holding the scheduled public meeting to elect the new PSC.
For the project to continue, community members residing in informal structures on the planned construction site need to move to a temporary relocation area. This relocation can only be done with the support of the community, whose interests are represented by the PSC. While the election of the new PSC members was put on hold on 15 October, construction of the project continues.
On 1 October 2016, the Department held a project review meeting with the previous PSC and relevant stakeholders of the project. Concerns were raised regarding the previous PSC and the community requested the election of a new committee, comprising members who have not yet benefited from the project. It was resolved at this meeting that the election of the new PSC was to take place on 15 October. It was further resolved that the new PSC would only comprise of community members who have not yet received housing units from the project.
A further meeting was held by the Department on 11 October, supported by the respective ward councillor Mr Samkelo John, in order to prepare for the election of the new PSC. The community, the previous PSC and all relevant stakeholders were therefore well aware of the purpose of the 15 October meeting.
In contrast to what was agreed in previous meetings, the contentious PSC members sought to disrupt the planned meeting of 15 October. Violence erupted when community members attempted to deny the former PSC members access to the meeting.
It is unfortunate that a faction in the community has resorted to violence to prevent the election occurring as planned on 15 October. The Department will therefore resort to legal processes in order to ensure that a new PSC is democratically elected to serve the interests of the community, in particular those who have not yet received homes. The election of the new PSC is expected to be conducted by no later than 5 November 2016. It is envisioned that this resolution will allow for the completion of the housing project, and for the rightful beneficiaries of the Joe Slovo Phase 3 Housing Project to receive their homes.
Mr Nathan Adriaanse
Director Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Tel: 021 483 2886
Cell: 083 2631 720